By 2030, there will be over 20 million older people in the UK
David Sinclair (Chief Executive)
David has worked in policy and research on ageing and demographic change for over 20 years. He is a recognised expert on longevity, with particular interests in older consumers, active ageing, financial services, adult vaccination and the role of technology in an ageing society.
He has deep knowledge of UK and global ageing issues, spanning health and care, pensions, housing, transport and consumption. David regularly presents internationally on longevity and demographic change and has published widely on topics including transport, technology, health and consumer markets.
David is an international advisor to the Sau Po Centre on Ageing at the University of Hong Kong and a member of the external advisory board for the University of Surrey Centre of Excellence on Ageing. He has worked with the pan-European AGE Platform for 15 years and is a former vice-chair of the government’s Consumer Expert Group for Digital Switchover.
Prior to joining the ILC, David was head of policy at Help the Aged, leading a team of policy advisers, and has held senior policy and public affairs roles across the voluntary sector.”
Kika De Silva (Accountant)
Kika is an Accountant at ILC
Kika qualified as a Chartered Accountant at PWC Sri Lanka . She also has a BSc (Econ ) Accounting And Financial Management from the University of Buckingham.
She works for a variety of Companies including Pension Funds.
She is married with three children. Enjoys going to the theatre , watching her son play cricket and encouraging her children in their pursuits.
Emily Evans (Senior Communications and Engagement Manager)
Emily is the Senior Communications and Engagement Manager at ILC-UK and joined at the end of April 2022 having spent over 25 years working in public affairs, communications and public sector policy analysis. She works across all ILC’s projects, events and communications and produces the ILC’s weekly Friday three newsletter.
After six years of living and working in a remote area of Panama, she returned to the UK with her family in August 2021. While in Panama she worked as an English teacher in various rural primary schools and for a parliamentary monitoring company, reporting on Select Committee evidence sessions, and gaining comprehensive policy knowledge on everything from social care to biosecurity. On her return to the UK worked as a Content Manager for a new cycle-to-work scheme provider specializing in e-bikes.
Following an interesting but not particularly employable zoology degree at Bristol University, Emily trained as a primary teacher and taught in various London schools. She worked for many years for a teachers’ union, first on education policy and then as the union’s Parliamentary and Campaigns Officer. Emily has also done assorted jobs at several small charities in Panama and the UK.
As a child, she moved from Nigeria to New Zealand and many places in between. She is happiest in a muddy field at a music festival or at the Emirates Stadium but also enjoys running, cycling and travelling. Emily lives in Central London with her partner and two teenage daughters.
Ben Franklin (Deputy Chief Executive)
Ben oversees major policy projects and programmes of work for ILC. He is an expert on the intersection of economic and social policy and previously ran the think tank Centre for Progressive Policy, doing groundbreaking work on spatial inequality and inclusive growth.
He has advised national and local leaders on how to address the drivers of economic inequality, and his work has been featured across all national news outlets.
Ben has specific expertise in the economic impacts of demographic change, having led research projects on older workers, retirement income adequacy and the macroeconomic impacts of ageing in a previous stint at ILC.
As well as working in think tanks, Ben has worked in the Treasury, Financial Conduct Authority and in the insurance industry.
Lyndsey Gorely (Head of Operations)
Lyndsey joined the ILC in October 2011 as an Administration and Events Assistant. She graduated from the Birmingham School of Acting (formerly the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama) in 2004. Coming from a varied background in theatre, admin and events, she is no stranger to deadlines and organisation.
As Head of Operations, Lyndsey is responsible for the smooth running of the ILC office, and works with ILC’s Chief Executive and Board of Trustees in ensuring the organisation’s regulatory obligations are met.
She has previously been responsible for ILC’s busy event schedule, managing over 50 ILC events each year including roundtable discussions, small scale seminars and workshops, dinners, lunches and large half-day conferences. She has managed a high profile drinks reception at 10 Downing Street, hosted by Mrs Samantha Cameron and the ILC’s annual ‘Future of Ageing’ conferences.
Alexandra Hale (Communications Intern)
Alexandra joined the ILC in January 2026 as Communications Intern. She is studying for an MSc in Global Health, Social Justice and Public Policy at Kings College London …
Arunima Himawan (Senior Health Policy and Research Manager)
Arun joined the ILC in March 2019 as a Research Fellow. Since then she has held other positions, including Senior Health Research Lead, and most recently Senior Health Policy and Research Manager.
She currently leads on ILC’s global health programme of work and strategy and manages the ILC’s prevention programme. During her time at ILC she has led on a number of other health projects, ranging from medication adherence to structural heart disease and adult immunisation. She is on the Steering Committee of the Structural Heart Disease Coalition, a member of the ILC Global Alliance Long-term Care Working Group and a member of the ILC Global Alliance Gender and Ageing committee.
In addition to global health, her interests include: generational discourse, social inequalities, and financial wellbeing. Prior to ILC, Arun worked at Goldsmiths College and the University of East Anglia in policy and research roles, influencing internal university policy to improve the student experience.
Akane Li (Policy Intern)
Akane joined the ILC in January 2026 as Policy Intern. She is studying for an MSc in Global Health, Social Justice and Public Policy at Kings College London and holds an MA (Hons) in Social Policy and Politics from the University of Edinburgh. Akane previously interned at an NGO focusing on environmental policy. Akane is deeply interested in the intersection of health and the environment.
In her free time, Akane enjoys badminton, embroidery, playing the piano, and reading.
Megan Saunders (Research Intern)
Megan joined the ILC in January 2026 as Research Intern as part of her MSc in Public Health, Social Justice and Public Policy at Kings College London.
She has worked various comms and research roles, and has produced research on housing inequity in the private rented sector. She is particularly interested in population health and access to vaccines.
When not working, Megan enjoys reading, planning trips and listening to podcasts about politics.
Hope Scott (Events and Communications Officer)
Hope joined the ILC in August 2025 as Events and Communications Officer. She graduated in 2023 with a BA in Politics and International Relations.
Before joining the ILC, she worked as a Public Affairs Intern for a financial and professional services membership body. In this role, she managed their Diversity, Equality and Inclusion network, engaged with parliamentary stakeholders, and supported research on international development policy. She is particularly interested in financial services and international development.
When not working, Hope enjoys visiting museums, reading a wide range of books, and walking her two dogs.
Tanya Singh (Senior Research Fellow)
Tanya Singh joined the ILC in September 2025 as a Senior Research Fellow.
She was previously a Research Economist at the Growth and Reform Network, where she led quantitative analysis and policy research across health, employment, industrial strategy, neighbourhood regeneration, public services, and family policy. Earlier in her career, she worked in international development, focusing on poverty reduction and gender equity in India.
Tanya holds an MSc in International Development from King’s College London and a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Delhi. Her expertise includes quantitative econometrics, international development, and policy evaluation.
In her spare time, Tanya enjoys the company of her very cheeky nephew, experimenting in the kitchen, and happily nerding out with data and methods.
Patrick Swain (Head of Partnerships and External Relations)
Patrick has been Head of Partnerships and External Relations since June 2025, previously working as Research and Development Manager at the ILC.
Patrick has over five years’ experience working on UK and European health policy matters, working previously for Leukaemia UK and the Brussels-based Coalition for Life Course Immunisation. He also worked as a Public Affairs Assistant for Airbus during a university placement year, as part of his BSc in Politics with Creative Writing from the University of Surrey.
Patrick is keen to deliver meaningful policy change by engaging with policymakers and relevant stakeholders in the UK and across the globe. His work on the ILC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination Atlas has been published on the UN’s Decade of Healthy Ageing website. He has also been quoted in national newspapers and outlets, including Stylist Magazine for his views on healthy ageing and physical activity, and in the Independent on mental health support for older adults.
In his spare time, Patrick likes running, playing tennis, and learning French (très lentement). He lives in Hampshire with his wife and two cats, Buzz and Woody.
Molly Townsend (Research and Policy Officer)
Molly joined the ILC in January 2026 as Research and Policy Officer.
Molly has spent 6 years working with charities, NGOs, and research bodies in public affairs, policy, and research.
Molly previously worked as a member of the secretariat on the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, building policy recommendations and communicating the commission’s findings. The commission was set up by Baroness Hilary Armstrong to investigate the state of neighbourhoods across England.
Molly has experience with charities and NGOs, previously working with Advocates for International Development and Creative Youth Network. Molly also volunteers for Conversation Over Borders, mentoring asylum seekers and refugees new to the UK.
Molly holds an MSc in International Relations from the University of Bristol and a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Plymouth.
Astrid Weinmann (Financial Controller)
Astrid joined the ILC in September 2024 as Financial Controller.
She has more than 25 years of experience working in the not for profit and charity sector. She is an ACCA qualified accountant, holds a MSc in Coaching Psychology, a BSc (Hons) In Applied Accounting and a degree in Social pedagogy / Social work from Germany. She strongly believes in prevention before intervention.
Astrid is a Trustee Treasurer for Home-Start Hillingdon.
In her free time, Astrid enjoys singing, coaching, the outdoors and doing all sorts of things for the organisations and charities she supports.
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